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Library

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 1 - 50 of 58

Assistance for Governments and Private Non-Profits After a Disaster

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website providing a compilation of guidance, case studies, tools, and training to assist local communities as they are in the midst of managing recovery post-disaster.

Building America Program

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
A website providing information on the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Solution Center, a source for innovations in residential building energy performance, energy efficiency, quality, affordability and comfort for more than 20 years.

Building Energy Efficiency Standards - Title 24

Author(s)
California Energy Commission
Organization(s)
CEC
Publication Date
Website providing information about the Title 24 building energy efficiency standards for the State of California and links to current and past standards including the 2025, 2022, 2019, and 2016 standards, etc.

Choose A Light Guide

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A simple three-step guide for homeowners who are looking to replace existing light bulbs with more energy-efficient, higher-performing bulbs.

Digital Coast

Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.

Earthquake Risk

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website providing links to scalable guidance and tools about the importance of earthquake mitiation to the private sector, its owners, managers, and employees.

Energy Conservation Program

Author(s)
Minnesota Power
Organization(s)
Minnesota Power
Publication Date
Minnesota Power's energy conservation program for community, home, and business conservation.

Energy Efficient Low-Income Housing Program

Author(s)
ADM Associates,
Texas A&M University,
FSEC,
University of Nebraska,
LBNL
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission
Publication Date
Research project addressing low-cost options that reduce monthly energy costs and improve the quality of life by enhancing comfort levels in low-income homes.

ENERGY STAR HVAC Design Report

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
This report is designed to meet ASHRAE 62.2-2010/2013 and ANSI/ACCA’s 5 QI-2015 protocol, thereby improving the performance of HVAC equipment in new homes when compared to homes built to minimum code.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2021: Clothes Dryers

Author(s)
Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
A list of clothes dryers that made the EnergyStar Most Efficient list for 2021, delivering cutting technological innovation along with energy efficiency.

Energy Star: Light Bulbs

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
A website explaining why homeowners should install ENERGY STAR certified lightbulbs, which helps to save homeowners on utility bills and protect the environment.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A website providing information on funding for mitigation programs to reduce disaster losses under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Flood Insurance

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website describing the national flood insurance program and how to purchase flood insurance.

FORTIFIED Home™ Training and Certification Programs

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Website providing access to the training for building professionals to earn certification as FORTIFIED™ Home Evaluators and FORTIFIED-Wise credentials.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Key Product Criteria

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website with information about ENERGY STAR criteria for geothermal heat pumps.

How to Find Indoor airPLUS Compliant Low Emission Products

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Companion document to the Indoor airPLUS Construction Specifications, providing guidance on identifying compliant products, including industry databases and examples of product labeling.

Implementing Green Infrastructure at Multiple Scales to Enhance Resilience

Author(s)
NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Case study describing Alachua County, Florida’s, green infrastructure strategy for land use development that incorporates rain gardens, ponds, swales, and native vegetation to manage stormwater.

Learn About Brightness

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website explaining the measurement of light bulbs, measurable in lumens, & brightness levels that ENERGY STAR products produce.

Learn About LED Lighting

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website explaining the basics of LED lightning, their lifespan, their use in general lighting applications, the amount of heat produced, and why you should choose ENERGY STAR certified LED products for your home.

LED Bulbs Made Easy

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A fact sheet providing information on ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs & how to find the right one to fit your lighting fixture.

Primary Frontal Dunes

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date

Renewable Energy Annual

Author(s)
Energy Information Administration
Organization(s)
EIA
Publication Date
Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.

Renewable Energy Ready Home Solar Photovoltaic Specification Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
The RERH specifications and checklists take a builder and a project design team through the steps of assessing a home’s solar resource potential and defining the minimum structural and system components needed to support a solar energy system.

Renewable Energy Ready Home Solar Water Heating Specification Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
The RERH specifications and checklists take a builder and a project design team through the steps of assessing a home’s solar resource potential and defining the minimum structural and system components needed to support a solar energy system.

Residential Safe Rooms

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A fact sheet educating homeowners on the importance of residential safe rooms, including their cost and how to register a safe room with local officials.

Resilient Communities Need Resilient Buildings

Author(s)
U.S. Resiliency Council
Organization(s)
USRC
Publication Date
Website describing the USRC, which "brings an unparalleled level of capability to the mission of improving community resilience in the built environment."

Solar Water Heating Specification, Checklist and Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Specifications to assist builders in designing and constructing homes equipped with a set of features that make the installation of solar energy systems after the completion of the home’s construction easier and less expensive.

Technical Reference Manual for WaterSense Labeled Homes

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
Resource manual for builders, designers, architects, plumbers, and others interested in the WaterSense Labeled Homes Program providing an overview of the program, explains how to meet the program requirements, gives descriptions of water-saving technologies, and provides links to further resources.

The State of the Nation's Housing 2010

Author(s)
Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
Organization(s)
Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
Publication Date
Even as the worst housing market correction in more than 60 years appeared to turn a corner in 2009, the fallout from sharply lower home prices and high unemployment continued.

Thermal Bypass Checklist Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Document providing an overview of the Thermal Bypass Checklist for the ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes program.

Waste Reduction Model (WARM) Version 12

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Information sheet with the Waste Reduction Model (WARM), designed to help solid waste planners and organizations track and voluntarily report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from several different waste management practices.

WaterSense High-Efficiency Lavatory Faucet Specification

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Specification of criteria for lavatory faucets and faucet accessories under the U.S. EPA WaterSense Program.

WaterSense Home Certification

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Article describing the EPA WaterSense program, process, and benefits.

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Bathroom Sink Faucets

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
This fact sheet outlines the requirements for WaterSense® labeled bathroom sink faucets, detailing their water-efficient features, compliance with flow rate standards, how they are tested, how they are built, and how they are verified to ensure their quality and compliance with conservation and...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Clothes Washers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the requirements for EPA WaterSense® certified clothes washers that highlights the integrated water factor, integrated modified energy factor, top-loading vs. front-loading specifications, efficiency code standards, local requirements, faucet types and regulations for building...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Dishwashers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the requirements for EPA WaterSense® certified dishwashers that highlights water cycle specifications, efficiency code standards, water consumption level relation to criteria, the advantages of ENERGY STAR dishwashers, and the regulations for building and verifying a labeled...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Free of Water Leaks

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing a comprehensive set of protocols for detecting, addressing, and preventing water leaks in homes, covering pressure-loss testing, visual inspections, and specific leak tests for fixtures and appliances to ensure water efficiency, water management, and high preformance of...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Hot Water Delivery

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing four different efficient hot water delivery (HWD) systems, the trunk-and branch, core, whole-house manifold, and recirculation, with emphasis on system schematics, piping materials, and regulations to design and verify the systems ensuring that they meet the quality and water...